noob question for experienced loaders

[jburris2001]

im just getting in to reloading. I just bought 1,000 325 gr. cast fngc bullets for my 500 s&w. they are made for a gas check. my question is do i have to put one on when i load these. I will be running the lighter loads of h110 and titegroup. And shooting them from a 22'' handi rifle.

[torpedoman]

not required unless needed with your load.

[LaOtto222]

You bought 1000 GC bullets with out the gas checks? They have the heal for it , but missing the actual Gas Check? The gas check is keep hot gasses from melting the lead alloy on the base of the bullet, if your loads do not generate enough pressure depending on the alloy used you should be OK if you stay under 1200 fps. When I bought GC designed bullets they always come with the gas check other wise the company will sell you a plain based bullet. If they are a gas checked bullet design and do not have the gas checks already on them, you would need to purchase the gas checks and then a die and press to put them on with. Good Shooting and Good Luck

[jburris2001]

yes i bought 1000 of them made for gc. yes they have the heel but not the check.  i got them for $30 shipped. couldnt pass them up. i will load some light and work up, looking for leading and other issues to see what i get. thanks

[LaOtto222]

You certainly got a GOOD buy on those. I would be trying them with out checks too.

[Steve P]

OK, so no gas check....are they SIZED?  Do they have lube on them?  The rebate on GC bullets is notorious for collecting lube and without the GC in place, they will leave that lube everywhere you don't want it.  In your powder, at the end of your cylinder, in your forcing cone, along anything near your barrel/cylinder gap, and all over the outside of your firearm. 

Sounds like the price is right, but you better make sure of exactly what you have before you put them in a case and try shooting them down range.

Steve

[jburris2001]

they size at .501 there is no lube on them yet. just trying to see if they will work without the gc. thanks for all the advise.

[cwlongshot]

Yep, I agree you can use them with no worries..
 BUT you mention lite loads and H110. These two do NOT mix!! Get yourself a good lead bullet powder, like Unique or Trail boss. The tite group is also a well liked powder. I haven't used it myself, so I will let those with experience with it comment further.

Good luck and WELCOME!!

CW

[Gohon]

I've never seen or heard of commercial bullets designed for gas checks being sold without the checks installed.  Where did you buy these?

[Lloyd Smale]

you do realize you cant shoot them without lubeing them dont you. You will have two options with these bullets. First and the correct way would be to buy a lubesizer and some gas checks and do it right. You can pick up a used lubesizer on ebay for around 60 bucks and a sizing die for about 30 bucks. A box of gas check is about 40 bucks. Now you are seeing why you got those bullets so cheap. The only other option you have is to buy a bottle of tumble lube and lube them like that and shoot them without checks but i wouldnt push them past 8 or 900 fps like that or your going to get leading and id about bet they arent going to be all that accurate. For one with the huge case the 500 smith doesnt take to downloading that much well and im sure there cast very hard and thats not ideal for low velocitys.

[jburris2001]

yeah i know they have to be lubed. i plan on getting a lube sizer. guess i will go ahead and get the gas checks and do it right. thanks guys.

[cwlongshot]

yeah i know they have to be lubed. i plan on getting a lube sizer. guess i will go ahead and get the gas checks and do it right. thanks guys.

Thats the best, now you don't need to worry so much about velocity!!

CW

[stimpylu32]

yeah i know they have to be lubed. i plan on getting a lube sizer. guess i will go ahead and get the gas checks and do it right. thanks guys.

You have another option -- Pick up a bottle of the Lee liquid Alox , I have run bullets as high as 1700 fps with out leading problems , you don't have to worry about getting the lube into the GC area as you would with a normal stick type lube .

As CW said , light loads and H110 don't mix well , Unique would be my first choice , then Bullseye for a good cast bullet powder .

stimpy

[jburris2001]

how well does titegroup do in these. havent bought my powder yet. but wanting to find on that i can use on 500, 357, 38, and 44. i know i will end up with more than one powder. but for now i just want a good one to start with. i will look into that lube also. thanks

[stimpylu32]

how well does titegroup do in these ? havent bought my powder yet. but wanting to find on that i can use on 500, 357, 38, and 44. i know i will end up with more than one powder. but for now i just want a good one to start with. i will look into that lube also. thanks

Not sure Titegroup would be the best powder for the big 500 , all the others it would work fine for , but the only data Hodgdon's lists on their site for the 500 in that powder is for the Barnes 325 , and that is running at a mighty high pressure compaired to most of the other powders listed for the 500 .

stimpy

[gray-wolf]

I would fall back re-group and re think what you are doing.

[jburris2001]

thats what im doin. thats the whole reason i asked you guys. want to do this right. like i say, i am new to reloading. just orderd gas checks to put on bullets. what would you guys suggest for a good powder for the 500. and other ones also. I will get one specific for the 500 if need be. just was looking for some insight. I really appreciate the help and knowledge you guys give on here. Definatley one of the most knowledgable forums around.